Before the U.S. officially entered the conflict with Japan and Germany in 1941, the federal government solicited proposals from auto manufacturers to develop a versatile vehicle that could replace horses and mules in the Army. Bantam conceived the initial prototype, which was quickly designed in just 18 hours by auto designer Karl Probst. However, due to production considerations, the U.S. government ultimately selected Ford and Willys-Overland for the project. This decision led to the birth of the legendary “Jeep,” which was named for its general-purpose (GP) designation.
Over the course of World War II, the United States became known as the “arsenal of democracy” because of its unparalleled industrial capabilities. Over the course of the conflict, American assembly lines produced 86,000 tanks, 96,000 bombers, and 2.4 million trucks, while Ford and Willys-Overland manufactured more than 600,000 Jeeps. Subsequently, the U.S. has consistently upgraded and expanded its assortment of military vehicles designed for overland operations.
Drawing from reviews of various government websites and military publications, including militaryfactory.com, 24/7 Wall St. has compiled a detailed alphabetical listing of the U.S. military’s most commonly used overland vehicles. This list does not include a number of utility vehicles, unmanned land vehicles, prototypes, or other miscellaneous vehicles that have not yet entered widespread military use.
This list of U.S. military armored vehicles, organized from oldest to newest, includes a wide variety of material and personnel carriers, tanks, and assault vehicles. While certain models are designed for specific missions and terrains, others, such as the versatile Humvee, fulfill multiple roles. We excluded variants of the same vehicle that have several unique configurations in use by the armed forces. Much like the iconic Jeeps of WW II, many of these vehicles have earned recognition and achieved iconic status as well.
These are the US military armored vehicles from oldest to newest:
1. AAV-7 (LVTP-7)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Vehicle type: Amphibious assault vehicle (AAV)
- First Entered service: 1972
- Crew size: 3
2. Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV)
- Vehicle type: Amphibious assault vehicle (AAV)
- First Entered service: 2019
- Crew size: 3
3. Buffalo H
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Vehicle type: Mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP)
- First Entered service: 2004
- Crew size: 2
4. Cougar
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Vehicle type: Troop transport
- First Entered service: 2002
- Crew size: 2
5. Flyer-72 ALSV (Advanced Light Strike Vehicle)
Source: Courtesy of General Dynamics
- Vehicle type: Special operations vehicle
- First Entered service: 2014
- Crew size: 3
6. FMTV (Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles)
Source: viper-zero / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Vehicle type: Military truck
- First Entered service: 1996
- Crew size: 1
7. Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck
Source: viper-zero / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Vehicle type: Military truck
- First Entered service: 1982
- Crew size: 2
8. HMMWV (Humvee)
Source: Rockfinder / E+ via Getty Images
- Vehicle type: Multi-purpose wheeled vehicle
- First Entered service: 1985
- Crew size: 1
9. Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Vehicle type: Light utility vehicle
- First Entered service: 2021
- Crew size: 2
10. LAV-25
Source: tfoxfoto / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Vehicle type: Light armored vehicle (LAV)
- First Entered service: 1983
- Crew size: 3-9
11. M1 Abrams
Source: Stocktrek Images / Stocktrek Images via Getty Images
- Vehicle type: Main battle tank
- First Entered service: 1980
- Crew size: 4
12. M104 Wolverine
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Vehicle type: Armored vehicle-launched bridge (AVLB)
- First Entered service: 2003
- Crew size: 2
13. M109 (Paladin)
Source: Jesse Stephens / iStock via Getty Images
- Vehicle type: Self-propelled artillery
- First Entered service: 1963
- Crew size: 4
14. M1117 Guardian ASV
Source: Rawf8 / iStock via Getty Images
- Vehicle type: Armored security vehicle
- First Entered service: 1999
- Crew size: 3
15. M113 APC
Source: mtcurado / iStock via Getty Images
- Vehicle type: Armored personnel carrier
- First Entered service: 1960
- Crew size: 2
16. M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle
- Vehicle type: Battlefield engineering vehicle
- First Entered service: 2008
- Crew size: 2
17. M1161 Growler
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Vehicle type: Fast attack vehicle
- First Entered service: 2009
- Crew size: 3
18. M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS)
- Vehicle type: Multiple launch rocket system (MLRS)
- First Entered service: 2005
- Crew size: 3
19. M2 Bradley
Source: upsidedowndog / iStock via Getty Images
- Vehicle type: Infantry fighting vehicle (IFV)
- First Entered service: 1981
- Crew size: 3
20. M270
Source: Maikel de Vaan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Vehicle type: Multiple launch rocket system (MLRS)
- First Entered service: 1983
- Crew size: 3
21. M60 AVLB
Source: mtcurado / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
- Vehicle type: Armored vehicle-launched bridge (AVLB)
- First Entered service: 1967
- Crew size: 2
22. M88 Hercules
- Vehicle type: Armored recovery vehicle (ARV)
- First Entered service: 1961
- Crew size: 3
23. M9 ACE (Armored Combat Earthmover)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Vehicle type: Military bulldozer
- First Entered service: 1986
- Crew size: 1
24. M915A5
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Vehicle type: Military tractor
- First Entered service: 2000
- Crew size: 2
25. M93 Fox
Source: Public Domain / The U.S. National Archives / Picryl
- Vehicle type: Reconnaissance vehicle
- First Entered service: 1990
- Crew size: 3
26. M939 Truck
Source: Roberto Galan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Vehicle type: Military truck
- First Entered service: 1982
- Crew size: 1
27. M-ATV
Source: Stocktrek Images / Stocktrek Images via Getty Images
- Vehicle type: Mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP)
- First Entered service: 2009
- Crew size: 5
28. MaxxPro
- Vehicle type: Mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP)
- First Entered service: 2007
- Crew size: 2
29. MIM-104 Patriot
Source: VanderWolf-Images / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Vehicle type: Surface-to-air missile (SAM)
- First Entered service: 1981
- Crew size: 12
30. RG-31 Nyala
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Vehicle type: Infantry mobility vehicle (IMV)
- First Entered service: 2006
- Crew size: 2-8
31. RG-33
- Vehicle type: Infantry mobility vehicle (IMV)
- First Entered service: 2007
- Crew size: 2
32. Scorpion DPV (Desert Patrol Vehicle)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Vehicle type: Lightweight all-terrain
- First Entered service: 1987
- Crew size: 3
33. Special Operations Vehicle (SOV)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Vehicle type: Light attack vehicle (LAV)
- First Entered service: 1992
- Crew size: 3
34. Stryker
Source: scguard / Flickr
- Vehicle type: Armored fighting vehicle (AFV)
- First Entered service: 2002
- Crew size: 3
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